§7-18-2. Rate of tax.
(a) The rate of tax imposed shall be three percent of the
consideration paid for the use or occupancy of a hotel room.

(b) On and after the first day of July, two thousand five, a
municipality may by ordinance increase the rate of tax imposed in
this section to not more than six percent of the consideration paid
for the use or occupancy of a hotel room: Provided, That
notwithstanding any other provision of this article to the
contrary, a municipality may not impose any tax authorized by this
article on a hotel located within its corporate limits upon which
a county was imposing a tax authorized by this article on or after
the first day of January, two thousand five, and continuously
thereafter to and including the effective date of annexation of the
territory in which the hotel is located pursuant to article six,
chapter eight of this code and, as to that hotel, the county is
authorized to continue to impose and collect the tax authorized by
this article at the rate of three percent of the consideration paid
for the use or occupancy of a hotel room: Provided, however, That
after the thirtieth day of June, two thousand seven, the county is
authorized to continue to impose and collect the tax authorized by
this article at the rate of not more than six percent of the
consideration paid for the use or occupancy of a hotel room:
Provided further, That prior to any increase in the rate of tax,
the county shall comply with the requirements of subsection (c) of
this section: And provided further, That in the event the county commission duly enters an order of record that ceases to impose the
tax authorized by this article on that hotel, then, as to that
hotel, the municipality in which the hotel is located by reason of
the annexation may impose the tax authorized by this article.
Prior to the second reading of an ordinance proposed by a
municipality to increase the rate of tax, the municipality shall
conduct a properly noticed public hearing on the issue.

(c) On and after the first day of July, two thousand seven, a
county may by ordinance increase the rate of tax imposed in this
section to not more than six percent of the consideration paid for
the use or occupancy of a hotel room. At least ten days prior to
the final vote of a county commission on an ordinance proposed by
a county commission to increase the rate of tax, the county
commission shall conduct a properly noticed public hearing on the
issue.

(d) The consideration paid for the use or occupancy of a hotel
room shall not include the amount of tax imposed on the transaction
under article fifteen, chapter eleven of this code or charges for
meals, valet service, room service, telephone service or other
charges or consideration not paid for use or occupancy of a hotel
room.